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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "genpeterolu@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Lt. Gen. Peter Olu" <offdoc----98898989@att.net>
Reply-To: genpeterolu@globomail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:39:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WILL BE APRECIATED
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
TO THE PRESIDENT FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN REPUBLIC
GET BACK TO ME AT YOUR EARLIEST
CONVINIENCE
â€Attention:Beneficiary
I am Lt. Gen. Peter Olu, National
Security Adviser to the President Dr BONI YAYI Federal Republic of Benin. I
decided to contact you because of the prevailing security report reaching my
office and the intense nature of policy in Benin Republic. This is to inform you
about our plan to send your fund to you via cash delivery. This system will be
easier for you and for us. We are going to send your contract part payment of
USD 1.5.Million to you via diplomatic courier service.
Â
Note: The money
is coming on two security proof boxes. The boxes are sealed with synthetic nylon
seal and padded with machine. This fund was brought to us from America; it was
meant for our Local AFEM market. But since the money was not used, I will use my
position as the National Security Adviser to the President to send this fund to
you.
The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will accompany the
boxes to your house address. All you need to do now is to send to
me
Â
Your full name
Your house address
Your age
Your marital
statue
Your identity such as, international passport or driver
license
Your contact phone and fax numbers,
Â
The Diplomatic attached
will travel with it. He will call you immediately he arrives your airport. I
hope you understand me. I will let you know by the special grace of God when the
boxes are airlifted.
Â
Note: The diplomatic does not know the original
contents of the boxes. What l declared to them as the contents is Sensitive
Photographic Film Material. I did not declare money to them please. If they call
you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing Ok, I will let you
know how far I have gone with the arrangement. I will secure the Diplomatic
immunity clearance certificate that will be tagged on the boxes to make it stand
as a diplomatic consignment Meanwhile the only amount involve for the final
conclusion of the delivery to you is $78 USD for the security keeping fees due
to the funds has been keeping here safety for long..
Â
Therefore be advice
to send to me the needed security keeping fees of $78 immediately with this
information.
Â
Receiver:----------------------------Mr.Nalco Marcel
City:-----------------------------------Cotonou
Country:-----------------------------Benin Republic
Test:----------------------------------delivery hours
Answer:------------------------------48hours
Sender:------------------------------Name
Mtcn No:----------------------------------
Â
This clearance will make it pass every custom
checkpoint all over the world without hitch. Confirm the receipt of this message
and send the requirements to me immediately you receive this message. If you
need more information about this, I will give you the details how to contact the
diplomat for more information on how to carry out the plan.
Â
I need your
response because the boxes are schedule to leave as soon as we hear from you.
Reply me immediately you receive this message via Email (genpeterolu@globomail.com)
call me +229-98952802.
Best Regards,
Lt. Gen. Peter Olu
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